Tales of Sumiyoshi - Sumiyoshi Monogatari

A story revised in the Kamakura period. Two volumes. The original work was written at the end of the 10th century, before the Heian period's "The Pillow Book" and "The Tale of Genji," but is no longer known. It is a representative work of stories about stepchild abuse, and has been read and passed down through the generations while being modified according to the times. Although the outline remains the same, there are many additions and deletions in each volume, and the writing also differs. A princess from the court of Chunagon Kanezaemon no Kami has her suitor, Shiino Shosho, stolen away by her stepmother's sister. The Shosho, realizing that it was a case of mistaken identity, courts her again, but she does not accept due to fear of reputation, and to avoid her stepmother's repeated evil schemes, she takes refuge with a nun in Sumiyoshi. The Shosho has a dream at Hasedera Temple, searches for the princess, and takes her to his house as his wife. A boy and a girl are born, and at the celebration of the princess's formal dressing, the father and daughter are reunited, and the stepmother's past evil deeds are revealed. The Shosho becomes the Chancellor, the princess becomes the Northern Minister, the boy comes of age and becomes Third Rank Middle Captain, and the girl prospers after wearing her formal dress and becoming the Empress. The exploits of the wet nurse and her faithful servant, the Jiju, are also not to be missed.

[Yoichi Misumi]

"Hiroshi Kuwahara, 'Study of Medieval Tales: A Study of the Sumiyoshi Tales' (1967, Nigensha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鎌倉時代に改作された物語。二巻。原作は平安時代の『枕草子(まくらのそうし)』『源氏物語』以前、10世紀末に成立したが、いまは伝わらない。継子(ままこ)いじめの物語の代表作で、時代にあわせて改変を受けながら読み継がれてきた作品である。粗筋は変わらないものの、本によって記事の出入りが多く、文章にも違いがある。中納言(ちゅうなごん)兼左衛門督(さえもんのかみ)の宮腹の姫君は求婚者の四位少将(しいのしょうしょう)を継母腹の妹に横取りされる。人違いと知った少将にふたたび求愛されるが、外聞をはばかって応ぜず、継母のたび重なる悪計を避けて住吉の尼君のもとに身を寄せる。少将は長谷寺(はせでら)で夢想を得て姫君を尋ねあて、妻として自邸に迎える。男君、女君が生まれ、袴着(はかまぎ)の祝いのときに姫君と中納言の父子再会がかない、継母の旧悪が暴露される。少将は関白、姫君は北の政所(まんどころ)、男君は元服して三位(さんみ)中将、女君は裳着(もぎ)ののち女御(にょうご)となって栄える。姫君に忠実に仕える乳母子(めのとご)の女房侍従(じじゅう)の活躍も見逃せない。

［三角洋一］

『桑原博史著『中世物語研究――住吉物語論考』（1967・二玄社）』

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